Register Now for the 2007 Annual CLE Conference

For a comprehensive update of the latest developments in the employee benefits field affecting plan design, compliance and litigation, the Section’s first CLE conference in Philadelphia is the place to be. The three programs in the Employee Benefits Track on Thursday, November 9, 2007 will focus on retirement plans (including traditional pension plans, cash balance and other hybrid plans, and 401(k) plans) as well has health and disability issues. The sessions are designed for labor and employment lawyers and ERISA practitioners, who want to learn about the key developments in the past year and get practical advice about what plan sponsors needs to do by the end of 2007 to keep their plans in compliance. For litigators, there will be a lively discussion of some of the most significant trends in ERISA case law this year, including a special focus on 401(k) fee cases and the continuing saga of what constitutes “equitable relief” under ERISA. In addition, a special session will be offered to summarize the sweeping changes that have been imposed regarding deferred and executive compensation arrangements and to provide some practical tips about negotiating these programs in the future.

Here is a more detailed look at the three Employee Benefits Track programs:

Thursday, November 9, 2007

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Hot Topics in Employee Benefit Plan Design, Planning and Negotiations for Labor & Employment Lawyers.  This session focuses on what labor and employment lawyers need to know about the latest plan design techniques, new compliance requirements and tools for negotiation for pension and health plans (including 401(k) and cash balance plans, health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), high deductible health plans (HDHP) and wellness programs). 

Panel:  Joyce A. Mader, O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue LLP, Washington, DC.; Deborah M. Lerner, Willig, Williams & Davidson, Philadelphia, PA; and Erin Sweeney,  Dickstein Shapiro LLP

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Hot Topics in Employee Benefits Litigation.  This session offers labor and employment lawyers a broad overview of some of the key benefits cases, including litigation involving cash balance conversions, 401(k) plans, remedies, standard of review, and benefit and disability claims. 

Panel:  Kay K. Yu, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Philadelphia, PA; Mark DeBofsky, Daley, DeBofsky & Bryant, Chicago, IL; and Lissa J. Paris, Murtha Cullina LLP, Hartford, CT 

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Hot Topics in Executive Compensation for Labor & Employment Lawyers. 

One of the evolving and controversial areas of employee benefits involves the rules governing executive compensation. This session is designed to focus on the basics of the new IRC Section 409A regulations and other rules that affect deferred compensation arrangements for executives - from severance plans to releases.

Panel:  Martha Jo Wagner, Venable LLP, Washington, DC; Brian J. Dougherty, Post & Schell, PC, Philadelphia, PA; and Eleanor Bannister, King & Spaulding LLP, Atlanta, GA.